Background Info on Recycling

Matt Malina standing next to a pile of milk jugs (Number 2 plastic) ready to be recycled.

Why are NYC residents required to separate recycling into 2 bins, one for paper and one for bottles and cans? Because NYC has 2 recycling plants; one that handles paper and one that handle metal, glass and plastic (MGP).

Pratt Paper in Staten Island receives about half of the city’s paper and recycles it into cardboard (pizza boxes). Interestingly, a large portion of the rest of the paper gets put in empty shipping containers and recycled in China.

Sims Municipal Recycling handles all of the city’s MGP at its recycling plant in Jersey City. The city is building a new recycling facility in Sunset Park on the Brooklyn waterfront that will be operated by Sims. It will have an education center and host school groups to teach them about recycling and how the plant operates. Students will get to see first hand the scale on which NYC’s recycling accumulates and the positive impact on the environment that they themselves can contribute to by recycling.

GROWNYC, the quasi city-private agency that runs the Farmer’s Markets has a division that handles recycling education. Their Recycling Champions initiative helps school set up recycling programs. GROWNYC is in the process of expanding this program from a staff of 1 to 6.